Freedom is on the march. Of the 157 countries graded in this year’s Index, 99 saw their scores improve -- some, by wide margins. Still, much work remains, especially in the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, where many economies languish under the grip of governments who miss the connection between freedom and prosperity. The Index has revealed over the years that relatively simple changes can yield positive results. Yet too many governments look the other way, often completely reluctant to make things better for their citizens.
There’s a larger message behind the numbers -- a message that the casual observer can easily miss. The Index is really about people and their struggle to overcome barriers. And not just any barriers, but the ones their own governments erect to limit how much money they can make and how much they can keep – barriers that limit what they can do with their money and how far it can go.
In this issue, find out the obstacles impeding relevant journalism in Ghana and development in Eritrea. Explore too, the steps of an artist swimming against the current to leave a legacy wherever he lands. Find out how national pastimes are bending public power for private advantage. How genuine are pleas for relief food on the plates of many families by African governments? Read on…
